The Biu Local Government Area (LGA) of Borno State, in collaboration with the Yaharakari Women and Youth Empowerment Foundation (YWYEF) and Oxfam, has engaged stakeholders to strengthen citizens’ participation in budgeting.

The engagement was organised under the Social and Economic Participation of Returnees, Internally Displaced Persons and Host Communities in the North-East Nigeria programme.

The programme, known as SEPIN SUSI, is being implemented in three LGAs across Borno and Adamawa states to promote social cohesion, community development and sustainable livelihoods.

Chairman of Biu LGA, Mai-Sule Abubakar, said the engagement, held in Biu town on Wednesday, was the first of its kind in the council.

Mr Abubakar said the initiative was designed to enhance citizens’ participation in budgeting processes and strengthen grassroots development through inclusive planning and community engagement.

He said citizens’ participation in budgeting was critical to inclusive growth at the council, pledging to implement frameworks reviewed and generated during the stakeholder engagement.

The chairman commended Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, for implementing budgeted projects in Biu, saying the projects contributed to improving residents’ wellbeing across the council.

He also appreciated development partners supporting the project, saying their efforts were contributing to improved social cohesion through community development planning and inclusive governance.

Mr Abubakar, however, decried low internally generated revenue in the council, restating his administration’s commitment to improving revenue generation and strengthening the council’s financial capacity.

Also speaking, Oxfam Country Director in Nigeria, Tijjani Hamza, represented by the Project Coordinator, Samuel Lashom, said the engagement was important for building trust between communities.

Mr Hamza said a budget was not merely a financial document but a direct reflection of people’s priorities, needs and aspirations within their communities and local governments.

“When government budgets accurately reflect citizens’ demands and citizens can actively track how funds are spent, we build something stronger than infrastructure. We build unbreakable trust between the state and the community,” he said.

He commended stakeholders for their advocacy in the council, urging them to use the platform to ask questions, seek clarity and engage authorities through civil dialogue.

Mr Hamza further tasked stakeholders to “keep your eyes on the implementation to ensure that the priorities mapped out in your Community Development Plans become tangible realities.”

He urged the leadership of the Biu Council to listen to participants’ feedback and demonstrate responsive, transparent and accountable leadership in implementing agreed priorities.

Also speaking, the Head of Programme, SEPIN SUSI, Ana Vinambres, urged stakeholders to implement the meeting’s outcomes to foster social cohesion and build sustainable livelihoods across the council.

Ms Vinambres, represented by Goni Modu, GIZ Borno Coordinator, also urged the council leadership to block revenue leakages and improve its revenue profile.

The Emir of Biu, Mustapha Umar-Mustapha II, represented by Betara Aliyu, Betara of Biu, commended the council’s efforts towards promoting transparency and accountability in governance.

The SEPIN SUSI programme is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the European Union to support communities in northeast Nigeria.

It is implemented by the Yaharakari Women and Youth Empowerment Foundation (YWYEF), Oxfam and Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) across selected communities in Borno and Adamawa states.

(NAN)